Outcomes of collective bargaining in the Philippine manufacturing industry

The quantity, kind and quality of provisions in collective bargaining agreements by companies in the Philippine manufacturing industry are influenced by several factors. Company size is a significant factor. Larger establishments have more flexibility in negotiating benefits to their employees than smaller establishments. Outcomes of collective bargaining are likewise significantly correlated to union registration, type of ownership, and company location. With limited resources available, this study shows that CBAs tend to reflect those provisions that are more useful to a particular company and union depending on their particular situation. While a correlation between, for instance, the size of a company and the amount, kind and quality of benefits administered to employees may generally be expected the study shows that the same is true whether or not a company is unionized. The study also reveals that only about eleven percent of CBAs with provisions on benefits required by law contained stipulations that were all above the minimum required by law, while twelve and one-half percent contained provisions that were below the minimum. Majority (76.13 percent) of the CBAs in the study contained stipulations that were just equivalent to minimum legal requirements. Qualitative factors that also influenced the outcomes of negotiations include the character of the union and personality, attitude, aptitude, qualification, and preparation of the company and union negotiating panels. Likewise, government agencies play a key role in the resolution of disputes that arise during the conduct of negotiations

Regulatory Focus and Information Cues in a Crowdfunding Context

It is well understood that information cues associated with an investment opportunity generally impact one\u27s willingness to participate in that opportunity. What is less well understood, however, is how different types of information cues affect individuals differently, and whether this effect is contingent on the decision maker\u27s individual attributes. Through a three-study experimental design involving a simulated crowdfunding portal, this research examined the effects of venture quality information and social information on participants’ willingness to invest in a new venture. We hypothesised that participants’ responsiveness to these information cues was contingent on their regulatory focus. Our results were generally supported, although some counterintuitive findings emerged regarding prevention-focused individuals. From a practical standpoint, our results suggest potential concerns regarding the general enthusiasm for crowdfunding, as well as some mitigating factors

Perovskite Nanocrystals Protected by Hermetically Sealing for Highly Bright and Stable Deep‐Blue Light‐Emitting Diodes

Abstract Metal–halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have emerged as suitable light‐emitting materials for light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) and other practical applications. However, LEDs with perovskite NCs undergo environment‐induced and ion‐migration‐induced structural degradation during operation; therefore, novel NC design concepts, such as hermetic sealing of the perovskite NCs, are required. Thus far, viable synthetic conditions to form a robust and hermetic semiconducting shell on perovskite NCs have been rarely reported for LED applications because of the difficulties in the delicate engineering of encapsulation techniques. Herein, a highly bright and durable deep‐blue perovskite LED (PeLED) formed by hermetically sealing perovskite NCs with epitaxial ZnS shells is reported. This shell protects the perovskite NCs from the environment, facilitates charge injection/transport, and effectively suppresses interparticle ion migration during the LED operation, resulting in exceptional brightness (2916 cd m−2) at 451 nm and a high external quantum efficiency of 1.32%. Furthermore, even in the unencapsulated state, the LED shows a long operational lifetime (T50) of 1192 s (≈20 min) in the air. These results demonstrate that the epitaxial and hermetic encapsulation of perovskite NCs is a powerful strategy for fabricating high‐performance deep‐blue‐emitting PeLEDs

Expression of insulin-like peptide 3 in the postnatal rat Leydig cell lineage: timing and effects of triiodothyronine-treatment

Copyright © 2007 Society for Reproduction and FertilityFetal (FLC) and adult Leydig cells (ALC) secrete insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), which is linked to cryptorchidism in the newborn rat. Its gene regulation appears to be independent of that for most steroidogenic enzymes, and may thus be a marker for other aspects of ALC differentiation. Our study examined the following on INSL3 peptide expression in ALC lineage (i) timing, (ii) which cell stage, and (iii) effects of triiodothyronine (T3). Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats of postnatal days (pd) 1, 5, 7-21, 28, 40, 60, and 90 were used for the objectives (i) and (ii). For the objective (iii), control and T3-treated (daily T3 SC, 50 mug/kg bw) SD rats of pd7-16 and 21 were used. INSL3 was immunolocalized in Bouin's-fixed testes. FLC were positive and mesenchymal and Leydig progenitor cells were negative for INSL3 at tested ages. INSL3 in ALC lineage was first detected in newly formed ALC on pd16, although they were present from pd10. The intensity of INSL3 label was greater in ALC of pd40-90. ALC were present in T3-treated testes at pd9, but INSL3 first detected in them was on pd12. While INSL3 in FLC regulates testicular descent, INSL3 in ALC still has no well-defined function. However, its pattern of expression correlates temporally with the development of steroidogenic function and spermatogenesis. Thus, the delay between ALC differentiation and INSL3 expression in them implies that INSL3 in ALC is associated with maturation. The advancement of INSL3 expression in the ALC of T3-treated rats implies that this function is established earlier with T3-treatment.S M L C Mendis-Handagama, H B S Ariyaratne, L Mrkonjich and R Ivel

Insulin-like factor 3 serum levels in 135 normal men and 85 men with testicular disorders: Relationship to the luteinizing hormone-testosterone axis

Insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) serum levels were measured in 135 andrologically well-characterized normal men and 85 patients with testicular disorders to investigate how the hormone, which is a major secretory product of human Leydig cells, is related to testosterone (T), LH, and semen quality. INSL3 was measured by using a newly developed fluorescence immunoassay. Median (2.5-97.5 percentiles) INSL3 serum levels were as follows: normal men (n = 135), 0.99 (0.55-1.73) ng/ml; infertile men (n = 23), 1.11 (0.60-2.07) ng/ml; anorchid men (n = 21), nondetectable (ND); patients with 47, XXY, Klinefelter syndrome (n = 21), 0.12 (ND-0.78) ng/ml; men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and T substitution (n = 11), ND; and men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) treatment (n = 5), 0.36 (0.13-0.73) ng/ml. Before testicular biopsy, two infertile men had blood samples drawn directly from vena spermatica. Here, the serum INSL3 levels were 15-fold higher than in serum from peripheral blood samples (13.84 and 14.00 ng/ml, respectively). In two unilaterally orchiectomized former testis cancer patients, who underwent hCG stimulation test, INSL3 serum levels were unchanged 72 and 96 h after hCG stimulation. In conclusion, we provide a normal range for INSL3 serum levels in adult men and show that the majority, if not all, circulating INSL3 derives from the testes. Furthermore, our data strongly indicate that INSL3 secretion is dependent on the differentiating effect of LH on Leydig cells but independent of the steroidogenic LH-mediated action. Thus, even though T and INSL3 are both dependent on LH, these two Leydig cell hormones are regulated differently.K. Bay, S. Hartung, R. Ivell, M. Schumacher, D. Jürgensen, N. Jorgensen, M. Holm, N. E. Skakkebaek, and A.-M. Andersso